My Point of View: 2025-08-31

We gathered for yet another Cash Bash at the end of October. We had been all talk in the text thread leading up to it. GOTH was the theme. But I didn't have something prepared, and it seemed like trouble, so I just went as my Sunday self. Seems everyone did the same. BUT we loved that Shafer came in full face goth!

I had a chance to sit by my mom and see what she has been up to. When she asked about me, I wondered where to begin! October was a busy one. I had gone to Vegas with Matt for his work conference, our family had taken a trip to Washington, D.C. for fall break, and I had just returned from St. George from my own work conference. She said, "Oh my." And that was that.

So let's get into it!

LADIES NIGHT OUT at the Heber Valley Hospital. The guest speaker was Nicole Pikus Pace. For our station, we helped ladies make calming kits. We also each took home a lovely flower bouquet from Full Bloom.

Continuing with all things bright and beautiful, I attended Melanie's daughter, Kate's, reception at the State Capitol. It was so good to see her and her family. They are all so genuine and kind, "You are my favorite person!" I'd hear. Really!?

Gosh, am I totally standing on the bride's dress?

As a friend and mom, I know how tender these special days are.

With Graham's senior year being four months instead of nine, it is like everything is in fast forward. I am soaking it up!

I can't remember if I recorded this or not. Matt and I were out on a date, I think last December, when some guy came to the door. Graham was the only one home, but he was on his way out the door. The guy didn't appear to be selling anything but had some odd questions. After the guy left, Graham was uneasy. He pulled a Kevin McCallister and made sure it looked like people were home, even though he was leaving. He turned on every light in the house—we have a lot of lights! Then he did something so funny. He said he hid his Ray Ban display. I guess when you don't have many possessions, you take extra care of the ones you do!

He keeps his room and the entire basement all spic and span.

The Stake President called me after his interview with Graham to find out more about him. He was unaware that such a stellar young man was living right in the stake.

WHS SENIOR NIGHT

The last home football game of the season is always Senior Night. All the cubs and teams are represented for a send-off, which makes for pretty packed stands. I looked around and saw drill and cheer moms, football moms, and marching band moms. I was there to see Matt and Graham do the stats together on the field one last time. Callie walked into my line of vision perfectly, paused briefly to chat with friends, and then walked on.

I didn't stay long. Just long enough to snap some photos and get a tear in my eye. I was in the midst of pulling out fall decor at home and was quite enjoying myself.

General Conference Weekend

I bought a snowman embroidery kit to make a Christmas snowman for each of my primary kids, ten total. I thought it would be a great thing to work on during Conference. I thought that maybe I could finish all of them! Yeah. Way too optimistic. I finished ONE, which took about ten hours to finish.

My eyes and brain needed a break. We picked up tacos from Mo's and ate on the library lawn.

Conference was a good distraction since the missionary portal showed that Graham's papers had been submitted! We wondered how much G-con would back log the system. Eeeek!

Matt was leaving the next day for NACS in Las Vegas. I him-hawed and hinted to no avail till I finally just invited myself along!

Graham and Callie assured us they would be just fiiiiiiine without us. I had my doubts when I circled back to grab something I forgot and saw Callie and her friends well underway in the kitchen, making six dozen carrot cupcakes for the cross-country carnival fundraiser. My nice bowls and spoons were out, the Cuisinart was in use. I thought, "I gotta get outta here!" I did.

Matt and I stopped in St. George at what has become our regular pit-stop, everbowl.

Vegas was all askew as the city prepared for the upcoming F1 event. We checked into the Hilton. Our room had a full wall of windows, but to keep the room cool, the window was covered with a roller shade. However, as we opened the door, they rose as though on command. I think I'm going to like it here. Matt was in a rush to get to his meeting, so off he went. I spread my blanket in front of that warm glass and said aloud, "This girl is in heaven." It was a nice place, even if the doors gave Haunted Mansion vibes. I enjoyed watching the workers build the stands for the event.

Later, I worked on my embroidery while listening to an audiobook, went out for Panda Express, and hopped on a 20-minute work Zoom call before getting back to my embroidery.

Heaven.

Matt told me he wouldn't be available much during this trip, as though that would be a deterrent.

This girl knows how to fill her time!

You can imagine our surprise, shock really, when Graham texted the next morning, Tuesday, October 8th, that his mission call was ready to view! What!? Matt had already left for the day, and so our frantic communication was through text. Matt wanted Graham to wait till we were back in Heber...on Thursday. I told him, "No waaaaay is Graham going to want to wait that long." I reminded him that this isn't about us. Whatever Graham wanted to do, he should do. Matt agreed. Graham said he would be reading his call at Provo City Center Temple at 11:00 am. Grayson would be meeting him there to film.

I suddenly wondered why I had come on this trip! Then I remembered that things happen for a reason, or even just happen how they happen. It was a sweet image of him and Grayson sharing this moment. We just went with it! The family joined via Zoom, wherever they were. Matt was in an Uber with four other people who also listened in on the big news, none of whom were members.

Spain, Barcelona Mission!

Reporting March 31, 2025

Spanish language

Provo MTC

We were all so thrilled and right away felt that it was the perfect call for him.

Oh, how we love our Graham! He looked so happy and downright relieved at the call.

PHEW. Well, now that the anticipation is over, I guess I'll go back to my trip?

I spent a fair amount of the day shopping in the adjoining Planet Hollywood Miracle Mile Shops, all the while thinking, "Barcelona!"

When Matt came back that evening, he said that I was invited to his work dinner, though I was just as happy filling my evening;) Besides that, I wasn't sure how hungry I was since I had gone to Auntie Anne's twice that day. But he insisted, and I was happy to oblige. I was glad I had picked up something to wear. We ate at a sushi restaurant in Caesar's Palace and caught a show at The Sphere. Fun Vegas night! We were celebrating with the very people who were in on the mission call opening.

The following day, I had more time to fill (I ended up doing very little work on this trip). I put on my walking shoes and headed to the Shops at Crystals to see the Princess Diana Exhibit. I took my time reading plaques and looking at the details of her dresses. Her death was such a significant part of history.

I lunched at the secret pizza kitchen at the Cosmo.

Phone eats first.

I had to let Graham know that there was a Ray Ban vending machine at the hotel. First cupcakes, and now this!

Back at home, the porch was piled with packages, and the mailbox was full of mail. Neither kiddo thought to check. However, they did remember to feed the cat, so all's well that ends well.

We arrived home from Las Vegas on Thursday, the 10th, and left for our fall break trip on Monday, the 14th.

In a separate post, I will write about the adventures when the Bocs took on D.C.!

A Washinton post!

Temple, Temple, Temple!

From that trip, which we arrived home from on October 21st, I drove to St. George the next day for my work trip. Matt had way too much to catch up on to join me. It was okay, because it turned into a girls' trip with my colleagues. I didn't even have time to pull out my embroidery! Hee hee. After I got settled in my room, I realized I could still make a session at the new Red Cliff's Temple. I've only driven past it during the day. It is is dreamy at night. I made an appointment for the St. George Temple for the following evening. Three magnificent temples in one week's time!

At the conference the next day, I got wind that everyone else was planning on going to the Red Cliffs Temple that night. I said that I had gone the night before, so I was going to the St. George Temple instead. A lady I have not gotten to know said she would like to join me. We became fast friends.

We all met back up for dinner afterward at a Thai place. The next night, we met up again for a hike up the Aspiration Trail and then went out for pizza. I was driving in a car with Wendy and Jen. Jen asked how long Wendy and I have known each other. When we told her just one day, she said, "Whoa, you guys seem like you have known each other a long time." See? Fast friends. Wendy wanted to visit the Karaoke Bar afterward. The person at the mic sounded good. It was a pretty packed house. However, the sweaty-palmed kid that stood up next sure knew how to clear a room:/ I said, "We can't leave, there won't be anybody here!" We stayed and gave him positive vibes. We're moms.

One night was a temple trip, the next, a karaoke bar.

Friday, I spent time at HomeGoods before getting on the road. I was enjoying myself way too much! I even left the conference a tad early on one of the days (to make sure I'd make my temple apt.). A raspberry concrete from Culver's in an empty hotel room makes for a blissful afternoon, esp. when playing hooky.

The sunset!

After all the coming and going that month, I enjoyed cozying up for fall and being home.

We took a wagon of pumpkins to church for our primary kids to find outside.

We still had this many extras!

The Theatre

Since the long-time amazing theatre teacher is retiring this year, she is going big with the high school productions. I went to them all!

First up, Phantom! Seems a tall order for a high school, but they delivered! I went back and saw it again.

We came up with a scary treat to take to the Cash Bash.

Their place was decked out spook-tac-u-larly! And of course, there was Shafer in full-face goth.

We have our own kind of scary going on at work. When we do our tobacco presentation, we have pig lungs that have been simulated as though a 150 lb. human smoked a pack a day for 20 years. We set them up on a stand and blow air into them to show how difficult it is for them to inflate.

The truly scary part, though, is giving the presentation to a group of ninth graders!